Keeping Up With Technology

Gamma-Stable Rigid PVC & TPE Medical Compounds

From: Plastics Technology
Issue: March 2010

WEB EXCLUSIVE: New rigid and flexible medical compounds that resist gamma sterilization are available from Teknor Apex Co.,Pawtucket, R.I.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: New rigid and flexible medical compounds that resist gamma sterilization are available from Teknor Apex Co.,Pawtucket, R.I. From the Vinyl Div. comes Apex RM 8001 R-NT, a rigid PVC injection molding compound that provides clarity and toughness for tubing cnnectors, luer locks, valves, drip chambers, instrument handles, etc. It is a low-odor compound that retains initial clarity and color after gamma sterilization. It is also a lower-cost alternative to engineering resins, particularly in small parts. It has been tested for compliance with ISO 10993-5 cytotoxicity standards.For flexible tubing, Teknor’s Thermoplastic Elastomer Div. introduced the new Medalist MD-500 Series of TPE compounds of undisclosed composition. They are offered as alternatives to vinyl with similar crystal clarity and mechanical properties—PVC-like “feel,” clamp resilience, and resistance to kinking and necking. A typical grade in the series is said to show 70% less color shift after heat aging and gamma sterilization than a gamm-stabilized PVC tubing compound of comparable hardness (72A). In addition, these TPEs offer much lower specific gravity than PVC (0.88 vs. 1.20). The series ranges in Shore A hardness from 53 to 86.